Wisconsin National Guard members face furloughs

Hundreds of Wisconsin National Guard members face furloughs as the result of the automatic federal budget cuts that took effect earlier this year.

Most of Wisconsin's 10,000 guard members won't be affected by the budget cuts because they are state employees or considered active-duty military personnel.

But about 700 guard members who are considered U.S. Department of Defense technicians must take 11 furlough days before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.

The guard members affected by the furloughs range from pilots and mechanics to people who work in human resources and finance.

"The key is, we're maintaining readiness, but we have had to make significant adjustments to how we train and operate in order to maintain that capability," said Wisconsin guard spokesman Maj. Paul Rickert, who himself will be furloughed.

"It is a reduced capability. If you remove 20 percent of the people in your office, you won't have the same capabilities," he added.

The furloughs are not expected to affect weekend guard duty or annual training for guard units.

Furloughs at 128th Air Refueling Wing based at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee are scheduled to start after July 8. But Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Rohloff said guard members assigned to the wing can go on active military status during their 11 furlough days so they don't lose pay.

Rohloff said the wing is doing other things to cut costs, such as cutting back on outreach programs and halting its honor guard's travel to funerals outside the Milwaukee area.

Copyright 2013 by WISN.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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